Healthy Alternatives for Your Diet

April 10, 2020

Need healthy alternatives for your diet?

We’ve got a list of healthier foods you can choose from to benefit your health while still enjoying foods you love.

Healthy Connection With Food

Do you need to cut out all of your favorite foods to be healthy? No! Many people think they need to feel deprived to be healthy and lose weight. They resort to counting calories and even give up some of their favorite foods. The problem is, this creates an unhealthy relationship with food. When you restrict food, you create a lot of stress. And stress negatively impacts your health.

Are you tired of taking a restrictive approach to eating? Learn to create a healthy relationship with food. Food is meant to nourish your body. Eating healthy can, and should, taste good.

Solid Nutrition Foundation

Get started eating healthier! First, focus on creating a strong nutrition foundation. Here are three simple tips to help you…

Choose whole foods over processed products. Foods without labels are ideal. And the fewer ingredients listed on a label, the better.

Opt for the best quality foods you can afford. Pass on pesticides, GMOs, and toxic ingredients. Spend a little extra money now to save on health problems long-term.

Plan 1-2 cheat meals a week to indulge. It helps to plan your splurges so it’s easier to stick to your eating game plan the rest of the week.

14 Healthy Diet Alternatives

What can you replace unhealthy foods with? Check out the healthy diet alternatives below. Try a healthy alternative every few days. Then, it won’t feel like you’re making drastic changes. And, before you know it, each one of these foods will become part of your daily diet.

Replace all refined and artificial sweeteners with healthier alternatives. Sweeten with success by using cinnamon and stevia. Cinnamon is helpful for lowering blood sugar. It can reduce a meal’s Glycemic Index by 29%! Organic, pure stevia is great for blood sugar too.

3. Cereal —> Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Steel-cut oatmeal is a healthier alternative to cereal. It’s also a smart swap for other processed foods like breakfast bars, and baked goods. Steel-cut oats are rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Lastly, add berries and cinnamon to give your oats an antioxidant boost!

4. Yogurt —> Kefir

Ready to pack in probiotics? Kefir is fermented milk. It’s like a drinkable version of yogurt but is a much better source of probiotics. Yogurt only has about 2-5 strains of beneficial flora. This only temporarily impacts gut health. In contrast, kefir has about 30 strains of beneficial flora and yeast. These cultures work together to repopulate the good flora in your gut. And they destroy bad flora and harmful yeasts. Want dairy-free options? Try coconut kefir!

Great GRAIN Options

5. Grains —> Greens

Most people eat twice as many grains (especially refined grains) as they do greens. This should be the other way around! How do you eat less grains? Include more veggies by juicing them, adding them to salads, and using them for wraps. See more alternatives below.

6. Sweets —> Berries, Cherries & Cacao

Berries, cherries, and cacao are great sources of antioxidants. These nutrient-dense treats pack in polyphenols, while satisfying your sweet tooth. Cherries and berries are also rich in vitamin C and fiber. Lastly, Cacao or dark chocolate contains decent amounts of magnesium.

Big FAT Swaps

7. Peanuts —> Walnuts

Peanuts are high in aflatoxins that contribute to health problems. Walnuts are a healthy food alternative. They’re a great source of anti-inflammatory omega-3s. What about peanut butter? Almond butter is a good option, especially if it’s homemade.

8. Butter, Cooking Sprays & Oils —> Coconut Oil

Get rid of all man-made “Franken Fats.” These include canola oil, soybean oil, cooking spray, margarine and buttery spread. These machine-made oils are high in toxins. They’re also genetically modified and contain high amounts of inflammatory omega-6s. It’s time to give your body an oil change! Switch to natural fats. Unrefined coconut oil is an ideal choice.

9. Margarine & Buttery Spreads —> Ghee

Ghee is a healthy diet alternative to margarine, buttery spreads, and butter. Grass-fed ghee is a great source of vitamin A and minerals. Lastly, ghee is a good source of fatty acids that support weight loss.

What’s a good replacement for milk? Coconut milk is a healthy alternative that’s dairy-free. It’s rich in immune-supporting lauric acid and metabolism-boosting medium-chain fatty acids. These nutrients support fat-burning and overall health. Make it fresh at home using coconut cream and water. Or buy full-fat, plain variety with minimal ingredients.

12. Soda —> Kombucha

Need a healthier alternative to soda? Swap regular and diet soda for kombucha. Kombucha is full of nutrients. It contains antioxidants, probiotics, vitamin C, beneficial acids, amino acids, and B vitamins. Zevia soda is also a healthier alternative. You can even make your own soda by adding flavored stevia to sparkling water.

13. Sports Drink —> Coconut Water

One great option for replacing electrolytes is coconut water. Many athletic beverages contain high fructose corn syrup. But fresh coconut H20 only contains naturally occuring sugar. This is much healthier than having a processed and refined sweetener added. Also, coconut H20 can have as high as 15 times the electrolytes found in sports drinks! Be sure to select a raw variety with the fewest ingredients and the lowest amount of sugar.

14. Mixed Drinks —> Red Wine

Replace mixed alcoholic beverages and other sugary concoctions with red wine. Pinot Noir is particularly high in resveratrol, an anti-inflammatory super antioxidant. Other options include vodka, gluten-free beer, Belgian brews. You can also make your own mixed drinks with a Zevia cocktail, Paleo pina colada, or berry daiquiri.

Smart Food Swaps: A Day In The Life

Here’s an idea of what a healthier day of meals looks like using healthy alternatives for your diet…

Breakfast: Moringa tea, steel-cut oatmeal with banana and berries

Lunch: turkey sandwich on sourdough bread with avocado and arugula

Snacks: fresh fruit or celery and almond butter

Dinner: chicken taco salad with salsa, guacamole & red cabbage

Dessert: dairy-free banana ice cream with honey & cacao nibs

Healthy Food Alternatives List

Now you can enjoy nourishing foods without packing on the pounds or feeling deprived. You don’t have to eat perfectly to improve your health. You just have to make progress. Use these healthy food alternatives to find a way of eating that’s easy and enjoyable for you to sustain.